Former Zimbabwe Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa has turned down an invite by his former boss, President Robert Mugabe for peace talks, urging him instead to heed to the country’s call and resign from office.
In a statement released Tuesday morning, Mnangangwa says he can not trust Mugabe given the manner of treatment he received upon his sacking. He claims the President has sinister plans should he show up for the talks at State House in Harare.
Mnangagwa confirms contact with President Mugabe following intercession by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces under the stewardship of General Constantino Chiwenga.
“In my contact with President Mugabe, I told the president that the current political and constitutional crisis in the country is not a matter between him and myself but between the people of Zimbabwe and President Mugabe. The people of Zimbabwe have clearly spoken on the matter. To me the voice of the people is the voice of God and their lack of trust and confidence in the leadership of President Mugabe has been expressed,” Mnangagwa said in the statement.
“……It is my appeal to president Mugabe that he should take heed of this clarion call by the people of Zimbabwe and resign so that the country can move forward and preserve his legacy. His Excellency Cde Mugabe has always said that if people don’t want him, he will leave office, now that they have spoken, he should accept the will of the people and resign,” he added.
Mnangagwa also warned Mugabe that he risks humiliation should he remain ardamant to the call of resignation.
“In my conversation with the president, I told him that there are two options, that is; (a)to cooperate in the current negotiations with comrades from the defence forces for a peaceful resolution of tis crisis and (b)that if he continues to dig in, defiance of the will of the people, he might suffer humiliation because definitely the will of the people will prevail against one person,” Mnangagwa said.
He completely declined any talks with President Mugabe.
While delivering his speech on Sunday, Mugabe stunned the nation and the world at large when he defied resignation and instead called for forgiveness and reconciliation.
Mugabe said he would be presiding over the ZANU PF congress in two weeks’ time in which he would advocate for the same.
Shortly after the speech by Mugabe, the ZDF realised a statement in which they revealed that the President and his former Vice Mnangagwa have been asked to hold talks and contact between the two obtained.
However, while Mugabe remains the President of Zimbabwe according to recent developments, power could be slipping away as citizens have started segregating him and calling upon him to step down.
On November 18, there were mass solidarity demonstrations against Mugabe led by the War veterans.
The following day, the Central Committee of the ruling ZANU PF resolved to recall Mugabe as chairman of the party, consequently sacking him.
Yesterday, The ZANU PF parliamentary caucus resolved to institute impeachment proceedings against the president.
READ MORE
Robert Mugabe summons cabinet for a meeting
FULL TEXT SPEECH: Robert Mugabe stuns nation, world as he fails to quit
